Button clamp



July 4, 1944. S W, AVIS 2,352,681

BUTTON CLAMP I lllllll/l/ 1 July 4, 1944. s W, Avls 2,352,681

BUTTON CLAMP Filed May 19, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I NVENUR: l. 4 .swwmjmamqg by poLJM/#Pnv Patented July 4, 1944 Samuel W.` Avis, deceased, late of Wellesley,

Mass., by Harriette M. Avis, administratrim Wellesley,

Mass., assignor to The Reece Button Hole Machine Company, Boston, Mass., a corporation of Maine Application May-19, 1943, Serial No. 487,5ii9

14 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for sewing buttons or otherwise attaching 'buttons to work, and particularly to the vclamps for positioning and holding the buttons for the action of the attaching instrumentalities.

The invention has for its general object to provide an. improved, smoothly operating but simply constructed and inexpensive button holder or clamp for accurately holding and positioning a substantially flat perforated button. It is also an object to provide an improved and simply constructed mechanism for automatically opening the clamp in order to release the button when the clamp is raised from the work. The inven tion will best be understood from the following description of an illustrative embodiment thereof shown in the accompanying drawings.

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly broken away, of a portion of a button sewing machine equipped with a button clamp embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of said button clamp;

Fig. 3 is a plan View of said button clamp;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section along the lines '1 -1l of Figs. 2 and 3;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a part of said clamp, and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of another part of said clamp.

While the invention is not limited in its application to any particular type of button attaching machine, it is for convenience illustrated in connection with a button sewing machine of the character shown and described in United States Letters Patent to Franklin A. Reece, No; 2,158,290, issued May 16, 1939, wherein all of the lateral movements necessary to attach either a two-hole or a four-hole button are imparted to the stitchforming instrumentalities as distinguished from the work-holding instrumentalities. Said machine comprises a base l5 supporting a work plate I6 and an overhanging head I'l in which is suitably guided a needle bar I8 carrying a needle I9 which cooperatesv with underthread or looper mechanism 20 to attach to work W supported on the work plate I8 a flat perforated button B held by a combined ypresser foot and Ibutton clamp assembly C. The assembly C is normally pressed toward the work W to clamp the latter on the work plate I6 and hold the button B in properly positioned relation thereto, but may be raised, before and after the attaching operations, to permit the insertion, removal or positioning of the work and the insertion or removal of successive buttons. As shownin thev drawings, .said assem- -bly is provided with a short upright stem 2flconnected by an arm 22 with a slide 23 guided fior vertical movement in the-head Il.. The slide 2.3 is normally held downward to urge thecombined clamp and presser foot against the work by a spring 24 associated with a lever 25 having one end thereof adapted to engage a pin l0 carried by the slide 23 and the other end connected-as rby a chain 26, to a treadle 2l which may be depressed to rotate the lever 25 clockwise in Fig: l'against the tension of said spring'fM" to move the slide 23 upwardly and thereby raise the assembly.

To prevent rotation ofthe slide 23 I(and. consequently rotation of the assembly C) said slide 23 is provided with a rearwardly extending arm ED which terminates in a hook-shaped end 5l adapted to slidably engage-an upright 52 secured to the side of the machine. A Y i In the present invention the stem 2-I .supports three jaw carrying members 60, y(il and '62.v The member is provided with a slot 63 adapted to receive a collar 64 mounted on the stemA 2l..

The slot A63 allows said memfber to slide inv a for. ward or backward direction. The member Ellis also provided with lateral arms 65 having-therein slots 6'6 and '61, the-longitudinal axes of lwhich are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis'of said slot B3. The two jaw carrying members-6| and '62 are angular in form (see Fig. 6) and eachV is provided with a hole 68 in one armthereof and each is provided with a pin 69 in its apex or angle. The holes 68 are adapted to receivethe collar 64, so that ythe carrier members 6l andV '62 are pivotally mounted on said collar- 64 and extend laterally therefrom on either side. The. collar 64 has a ring l0 disposed above the-meme4 Iber 60 and a ring ll disposed below the member 62. 'I'hese rings serve to hold said members against vertical movement independent of the.

stem 2 I. The pins "69 are slidably received in the slots 66 and y6l formed in the lateral arms 65.- of the carrying member 60. The member '60 is.

provided with a button holding jaw 1'2 vand the members 6l and 62 are each provided with but-l ton holding jaws 13 and 14. Each of these jawsy (see Fig. 4) is constructed in the form of an angle. The jaws V'I3 and 14 are adapted to receive the button on the inside surface of thet angle formed; the jaw l2 receives the button on the outer surfacel of the angle. These jaws clamp a button placed between them by pressing inwardly and downwardly lupon it, the'button receiving underneath support from the top surface of a presser foot 'llcarriedby the member-v 6U.

The lower surface of said presser foot may be used to clamp the work W when the assembly is in operative position. The presser foot and the jaws 12, 13 and 14 are secured to the members 60, 6| and 62 as by screws 16.

Secured to the stem 2| is a rod 11 which extends rearwardly over the member 68 and extends through a hole 1B in a iiange 19 on the rear end of the member 69 so that it serves as a guide for the member 6D. A spring 89 around the rod 11 is held compressed between a collar 8| secured to the rod 11 as by a clamping screw 82, and a bracket 83 secured to said member 69 as by rivets 84. A stud B5 is screwed through the stem 2|, the rearwardly extending end thereof serving to limit the forward movement of the bracket -83 under the impulse of the spring 89 and thus likewise serving to limit the forward movement of the mem-ber E0. A toggle 86 cornprises paired links 81 and 8.8 joined by a transverse pin 89 carrying a sleeve 99, the links of the several pairs being (preferably integrally) connected by bridge pieces 81a and 88a, respectively. The links l81 are pivoted at 9| on opposite sides of the stem 2|, and links 88 are pivoted at 92 on spaced ears 93 extending from the ilange 19 formed on the rear end of the carrying member 60, so that the toggle 86, as well as the rod 11, serves to 4guide the member 'E8 for rectilinear movement. The toggle 86 is normally held in the relatively collapsed position as shown in Fig. 4 under the impulse of the spring 80, at which time the member 60 is moved forwardly and exerts pressure on the pins 69 to rotate the members 6| and 62 in a forward direction so that the jaws 12, 13 and 14 are all forced inwardly toward each -other in button clamping position. When the sewing operation is completed and the clamp assembly is raised by depressingthe treadle '21, the sleeve 90 is brought into contact Witha ystud 94 in the overhanging arm I1 of the machine, thereby causlng the stud 94 to straighten or iiatten the toggle to counteract spring Bil-and move the member 60 rearwardly. As the member (il)V moves rearwardly it-acts, through the slots 66 and @i andpins 69, to rotate the members 6| and E2 backwardly so that the jaws 12, 13 andv14are separated or moved Aapart into-button-releasing or button-receiving position.

Buttons may-be attached closelyA to the cloth or may 'be spaced therefrom with a neck of thread extending between cloth and button. When buttons are sewn -close to the cloth, the presserV foot 15 is used to hold the work, but when necks of varying lengths are desiredgan adjustable auxiliary presser foot |80 maybe-employed. This adjustable presser foot, which acts asa spacer, is provided with a stud ||l| threaded into the lower end of the stem 2|, the threads having a relatively iiat pitch. lThe extent-to which the stud IUI is screwed into the stem 2| determines the length of the neck of thread betweenvthe cloth and the button. -A lock nut |82 secures the stud IUI in position after the presser foot |00 has been properly adjusted.

What is claimed is: Y

1. In a sewing machine for attaching buttons, button clamping means comprising three relatively movable members each having a button clamping jaw, one of said members being` guided for reciprocating movement andthe others being mounted to swing about a.: common axis, and

means connectingsaidymembers for causing the other members to pivot'about their common axis so that all three button clamping jaws are simultaneously advanced into button clamping position and simultaneously withdrawn into button releasing position when said first named member is reciprocated.

2. In the machine defined in claim 1, a spring for moving the reciprocating member in one direction and a toggle mechanism for moving said member in the opposite direction.

3. In a sewing machine for attaching buttons to work, button clamping means comprising three relatively movable mem-bers each bearing a button clamping jaw, one of said members being guided for reciprocating movement, the other two of said members being pivotally mounted to swing about a vcommon axis in the same plane as the longitudinal axis of movement of said reciprocating member, means associated with said reciprocating member for imparting a pivotal movement to said other members simultaneously with said reciprocating movement'where- 'by said button clamping jaws are moved in coordination into and out of button clamping position.

4. In a sewing machine for attaching buttons to work, button clamping means comprising three relatively movable members each bearing a button-clamping jaw, one of said members being guided for reciprocating movement, the other two of said members being pivotally mounted vto swing about a common axis in the same planeV as the longitudinal axis of movement of said reciprocating member, means associated with said reciprocating member for imparting a pivotal movement to said other members simultaneously with said reciprocating movement whereby said button clamping jaws are moved in coordination into and out of button clamping position, a spring for moving said reciprocating member in one direction, and a toggle for moving said` reciprocating member` in the other direction against the action of said spring. f

5. In a sewing machine for attaching buttons to work, a presser foot for holding saidl work, means for lifting said presser foot to release saidwork, button clamping means comprising a-slidable reciprocating member having laterally extending arms and a pair of laterally vdisposed clamping members having a common pivotal axis' in the plane of the longitudinal axis of movement of said reciprocating member and operativelyl connected to said lateral arms of the reciprocating member to receive therefrom a pivotal movement coordinated with said reciprocating movement, a button-clamping jaw'secured to each of said members, a spring for moving said reciprocating member into button clamping position, a toggle for moving said reciprocating memberV against the action of said spring, and means oppresser foot for opermovable members having button -holding jaws secured thereto adjacent their outer ends, means for guiding one or" said members for substantialiy rectilinear movement, the other two'members being pivoted at their inner ends to swingabout a common axis, and Vpin and slot connections between said iirst named member land said swing about said axis.

7. A button clampY ccmprisinga. supporting stem, three relatively movable vmembers having f'- button holding jaws secured thereto adjacent their forward ends, means for guiding one of said members for substantially rectilinear movement, said means including a toggle connected at one end at spaced points to said stem and at the other end at spaced points to said member, and means associated with said member for giving the other two members a rotative movement in timed relation to the rectilinear movement of the first to cause said jaws to move in unison into and out of button clamping position.

8. In a button sewing machine, a work plate, a button holding assembly movable toward and away from said work plate, said assembly including a plurality of button holding or clamping jaws relatively movable toward and away from one another to clamp and release a button, means including a toggle for moving said jaws away from one another, and means engaged by said toggle when said assembly is moved away from the work plate to cause said toggle to automatically move said jaws away from one another.

9. In a button sewing machine, a work plate, a work clamping and button holding assembly movable toward and away from said work plate to clamp and release the work, said assembly including a plurality of button holding or clamping jaws relatively movable toward and away from one another to clamp and release a button, means including a toggle for moving said jaws away from one anothe rand means engaged by said toggle when said assembly is moved away from the work plate to cause said toggle to automatically move said jaws away from one another.

10. In a button sewing machine, a work plate, a button holding assembly movable toward and away from said work plate, said assembly including a plurality of button holding or clamping jaws relatively movable toward and away from one another to clamp and release a button, means including a. toggle for moving said jaws away from one another, and an abutment engaged by the joint of said toggle when said assembly is moved away from the work plate to straighten said toggle and cause the same to automatically move said jaws away from one another.

11. In a button sewing machine, a work plate, a button holding assembly movable toward and away from said work plate, said assembly including a plurality of button holding or clamping jaws relatively movable toward and away from one another to clamp and release a button, a spring acting normally to move said `jaws toward one another, meansY including a toggle for moving said jaws away from one another, and means engaged by said toggle when said assembly is moved away from the work plate to cause said toggle to automatically move said jaws away from one another.

l2. In a button sewing machine, a work plate, a button holding assembly movable toward and away from said work plate, said assembly including a support and a plurality of jaw carrying members movably mounted thereon, said members being interconnected for movement in unison to move the jaws carried thereby toward and away from one another to clamp and release a button, a toggle interposed between said support and one of said members, and means engaged by said toggle when said assembly is moved away from the work plate to straighten said toggler and thereby cause said jaws to move away from one another.

13. In a button sewing machine, aV work plate, a button holding assembly movable toward and away from said work plate, said assembly comprising three relatively movable members having button holding jaws secured thereto adjacent their forward ends, said members being interconnected for movementl in unison to Vmove said jaws toward and away from one another to clamp and release a button, means including a toggle for guiding one of said members for substantially rectilinear movement and for moving the same in the direction to cause said jaws to release the button, and means engaged by said toggle when said assembly is moved away from the work plate to cause said toggle to automatically so move said jaws.

14. In a button attaching machine, button clamping means comprising three relatively movable members carrying buttonv holding jaws,

means including a toggle for guiding one of said members for substantially rectilinear movement, the other two of said members being mounted to swing about a common axis, and means connecting said members for causing said last named members to pivot about their common axis when said first named member is moved rectilinearly.

HARRIETTE M. AVIS, Administratria: of the Estate of Samuel W. Avis,

Deceased. 

